Three LSU Alumni featured on new TV survival series.

Three LSU Alumni Featured on New TV Survival Series.

FOX's "Extracted," from the producers of “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” includes 12 untrained competitors who must survive in the Canadian wilderness to win a $250,000 prize.

While the teams compete, their loved ones are in a “secluded headquarters” watching them via live stream as they try to survive. Each survivalist’s family member can press the “Extract” button if they feel their teammate is in danger, taking their team out of the competition.

One of the competing teams was formed by LSU alumni Meagan Delatte Murphy (2016 BACH BUS), a health and wellness coach in Mandeville; her father, Gerrad M. Delatte, Ph.D. (1990 BACH ENGR, 1998 MAST BUS, 2014 PhD), professional in residence at LSU; and childhood friend Abby Hayes (2019 BACH AGR) of Park City, Utah. Meagan has the role of the survivalist competitor, while Gerrad and Abby are her family members competing at “headquarters.”

Pictured: Abby, Meagan & Gerrad will be featured in “Extracted,” a new FOX series.

After a previous experience being alternates on a different survival show, Meagan and her father Gerrad were approached by producers to be a part of “Extracted.” When they needed a third person to man the “Extract” button, they approached Hayes, who wasn’t surprised to hear about their participation in the show. “They have been talking about doing something like this since I was about 8 years old,” Hayes said in an interview. 

Gerrad has experience in adventure racing, which consists of navigating with a map and compass as you hike or run, then mountain bike, canoe, or kayak, through the wilderness. One of these contests lasted 10 days. Meagan, a health and wellness coach, also competed with her father on a four-day adventure race in Florida, which helped prepare her. Her father says she’s always been full of grit, determination, and a will to succeed. Meagan, an avid adventure racer and marathon runner, has also overcome four knee surgeries. 

Throughout the competition, Hayes learned how hard it is to watch someone you love suffer while pondering whether to push that “Extract” button. She also discovered the only thing she can truly control is how she reacts to a situation.

One of the most extreme parts of Meagan’s time in the wilderness was being away from people and learning to cope with the struggles of surviving alone. “Every single day, I see hundreds of people. I’m a people person, and I think for the first time in my life, I was alone, truly,” she says.

Meagan’s positive mindset helped get her through this competition. She got married two weeks before she left for “Extracted” and says her positive attitude allowed her to only worry about what was in front of her.

Hayes says she got to watch Meagan grow step-by-step. Throughout the show’s run, viewers can see all the contestants' growth through their video diaries.

Gerrad says they are just ordinary people, but “ordinary people can do extraordinary things.” He says, “Go outdoors, enjoy nature, and Geaux Tigers!”

After the show’s premiere, future airings will be on Monday nights at 7 p.m. CST. Tune in to see whether or not Meagan gets “Extracted.”